New Jobs Network Set to Challenge Gender Bias in the Construction Industry

A new jobs network is launching in the UK which is set to raise the bar for women working in the construction industry.

Work180– which has already established new standards for gender recruitment in Australia ­ connects employers with female talent through a unique, transparent pre-screening process.

Women are able to review companies¹ traditionally private policies and make educated decisions before applying to work at the company.

Work180 assesses employers on a range of criteria from the likes of pay equality; flexible working; paid parental leave; and equal opportunities through to the availability of a breastfeeding room, mentoring schemes or a domestic violence support policy.

As the findings are made public, not only are employers better placed against the competition to attract, retain and benefit from a gender diverse workforce but standards are raised across the industry as companies seek to match or exceed each other with their benefit packages.

Gemma Lloyd, co-founder and CEO, Work180 says, ³Despite best intentions, many construction companies still struggle to attract and retain women. This has to change.

³Work180¹s philosophy is that instead of the onus being on a candidate to prove their worth to a potential employer, the companies themselves should be more transparent so that job-seekers know what sort of firm they are dealing with in the first place.

³Should the company find that it is falling short against its peers, appropriate action can be taken ­ such as the implementation of new female-friendly initiatives ­ so that they can avoid losing talented workers to the competition.

³Having seen how well the Work180 model works in Australia we¹re excited to replicate this success to the UK.²

Work180 has already signed up high calibre blue-chip companies in the UK including Aggregate Industries, BAE Systems, HSBC, Microsoft, Schneider Electric and Schroders.